Our History

About the McCorkle Funeral Home

Our funeral home in Durand, IL was originally established in 1857 and has not moved from it's current location. The funeral home has been sold throughout the years to various owners. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Chapin purchased the funeral home in 1934 and then started to remodel the inside and outside of the business, with remodeling being completed in 1937. Mr. Chapin died in the early 1940s and Mrs. Chapin then continued to operate the funeral home with the help of funeral directors from other towns.

On October 31, 1957 Mr. & Mrs. William & Margie McCorkle purchased the business. When William started arranging funerals in the Durand, IL area he learned how to manage handling funerals in the deceased's home. As the population growth began in Durand, IL the doorways in the new homes also started to become smaller in size. This started to prevent funerals held at home. This forced more funerals at the funeral home or in churches.

With this forced change William was able to start providing additional services and merchandise that would help families show their spiritual and personal feeling for their loved ones. As the people’s needs in funerals began to change, McCorkle Funeral Home adapted to the desires of the public.

On October 21, 1981 William and Margie expanded McCorkle Funeral Home to Pecatonica, IL with the purchase of Knapp Funeral Home. William then began to make pre-arranged funeral plans for both communities of Durand and Pecatonica, IL. The communities were starting to realize the benefits of making not only at need funeral plans, but they also realized the benefits of preplanning.

In October of 1992 William and Margie welcomed a new business partner: Brian McCorkle. Again there were some new services and merchandise added to McCorkle Funeral Home for the benefit of the communities in the Stateline area. The business started to serve families that began traveling to McCorkle Funeral Home locations.

On October 1, 1998 McCorkle Funeral Home purchased the Bifulk Funeral Home in Rockton, IL to be able to better serve families that were traveling from the Rockton, IL area. With now three locations to oversee, William, Margie and Brian McCorkle began the process of developing a business that was able to hold multiple visitations, funeral ceremonies, memorial ceremonies and burials in different locations all on the same day. This benefit has helped families plan funerals for loved ones the way they desired.

In August of 2013 we acquired the Kenneth L. Countryman Funeral Home in Pecatonica, IL. With a storied history since 1958 of small town values, honesty, and respect for the families they serve, McCorkle Funeral Home felt this firm would be complimentary to our family of funeral homes. The funeral home has that old world feel that puts families at ease. There is a spacious chapel, lounge areas with beautiful décor that transcends time and gives respite to the family.

As time and needs have changed McCorkle Funeral Home, so has our ability to address the desires, needs and personal wishes, that people have for their own funeral. Being we are family owned and operated, we understand how important the death of a loved one is to the families we serve. This is why we strive to provide quality merchandise, a dignified service, knowledgeable staff and integrity in business.

McCorkle Funeral Home values the trust you place in us to handle the funeral for your loved one. We will not judge or discriminate anyone for the type of funeral ceremony selected. We will work diligently for you and your family to provide a meaningful ceremony.